february 2013

ARE YOU FOR

Copyright © 2013 Insight for Living Canada. All rights reserved. No portion of this monthly publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. Insights is published by IFLC, the Bible-teaching ministry of Charles R. Swindoll. IFLC is an autonomous ministry and certified member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages are taken from the NASB. Unless otherwise noted, photography and illustration by IFLC staff. Printed in Canada.

"Does God expect

Christians to be Perfect?"

In this issue

3 Grace Allows us to Accept Ourselves—Warts and All Charles R. Swindoll

6 The Beauty of Doing Nothing Robyn Roste

Laughing MatteRS8 Get Real Phil Callaway

11 What is This Thing Called Love? Dr. Malcolm gill

14 Q & A Steve Johnson

1114

8

by Charles R. Swindoll 3

Grace Allows us to Accept Ourselves—Warts and All continued from p. 3

Michael: So if there’s something that comes out from the depths of Chuck Swindoll, it’s this message of grace. I mean, it comes out of your pores. Your laughter, your self-depre-cating humour, the way you throw your head back when you preach. It’s compelling. Oth-ers can’t help but think I wish I could love life like that guy. I wish I had that much joy. Help us. What’s that all about?

Chuck: I will tell you in one word; it’s free-dom. I am free. I am really free.

Michael: Was there a defining moment in your life? What was it like when you started tasting the freedom of grace?

Chuck: Well, I write about it in my book, Saying It Well. I found out who I was. I accepted who I am. I didn’t like everything about it, but I accepted the person God made inside this skin. And then I began to be who I am.

Now, it wasn’t this way at the first. In the early days, when I got in the pulpit I was severe. I handed out a lot of reproof. I felt, we’ve got to get this straight. These are biblical principles, and, you know, eter-nity’s at stake. And one day Cynthia said,

“We all know those things, but we just need to be charmed into righteousness,” which is a line Reinhold Niebuhr used in one of his works.

Michael: OK, so there are those who will hear “understanding who I am” and say it sounds like a bunch of psycho-babble. So how do we help people understand that grace isn’t about sanctifying the fact that we are the way we are—in that we are human and make bad choices—but about accepting the way God designed us, even in a fallen context?

Chuck: Well, there’s a difference in accept-ing who I am, warts and all, and focusing on “it’s all about me.” That’s narcissism. And life is not about that. Freedom says that God made you who you are. Don’t try to hide the fact that it includes weaknesses and strengths. See, to deny that I have strengths is ridiculous . . . just as is deny-ing that I have weaknesses. Somewhere is the balance. Grace allows me the freedom to know the difference.

Michael: Yes, grace is about accepting who we are, and it’s not about what we do. It’s not about conforming to lists or being perfect.

Chuck Swindoll recently sat down with Michael Easley, pas-tor of Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, Tennessee, to discuss their mutual love for the Lord, for God’s Word, and for God’s amazing grace. Here, Chuck shares about his personal “grace awakening” and how God’s all-sufficient grace allows Chuck to be himself.

4

“Nothing you can do,” as Prof Hendricks would say, “will make God love you more. Nothing you can do will make Him love you less.” God gives us the freedom to fail and still be loved. And yet we are to still strive for righteousness.

Chuck: Oh sure. Listen, I joyfully—exuber-antly—embrace my freedom in Christ. But I’m constantly dealing with the real world too. I face the same fight others face when they see a sign that says, “Don’t touch the wet paint.” I, too, want to touch it. And when I’m given rules, I don’t always want to keep them.

Now that’s grace gone to seed. If I start thinking, That rule doesn’t apply to me. I’m free of rules and lists, that’s not freedom. That’s another kind of bondage; it’s a kind of self-made bondage where I’ve twisted grace and called it grace, when in fact, it’s disobedience. No list God gives us is for the purpose of legalism. It’s for the purpose of obedience. Furthermore, it’s for our

good and His glory. And I think, when you embrace grace, you care about that. You want to obey. You know, I don’t stay faith-ful to Cynthia because she might catch me if I don’t. I stay faithful to her because I love her, and I cannot NOT be faithful to her.

Michael: You know, I’ve adopted a definition of grace as “undeserved favour in the face of deserved wrath.” I think it helps people to consider not only “I’m getting grace,” but also “I deserve hell. I deserve God’s wrath, but in His kindness, He extends grace to me.” Chuck: Incredible. That’s what makes us want to obey, to follow our Saviour with all of our hearts. I don’t believe there is the passing of a day or two in my life that I don’t

think about grace and give thanks for it. Freedom—it’s the only way to really live. ▪

Photograph of Chuck Swindoll © 2012 by Luke Edmonson

"No list God gives us is for

the purpose of legalism. It’s for the purpose of obedience."

fro

gs ©

isto

ckph

oto.

com

/Ant

agai

n

* Watch the entire interview online at insightforliving.ca /video. 5

Comment on this article

My husband works in a remote part of Alberta and every few weeks his crew must move their

camp to a new location. Last week they were ready to move but couldn’t because it was Sunday.

Here’s why: according to the Commer-cial Vehicle Safety Compliance in Alberta, moving anything larger than 3.85 metres wide is not permitted on a Sunday or stat-utory holiday.

While I don’t know the history behind this rule it smells like leftovers from the Christian tradition of Sabbath rest. It’s not like the practice has died off completely, however, when I was younger shopping on Sunday was frowned upon and I felt guilty if I had to miss church for any reason. Now, not so much.

I think it’s safe to say in general our society no longer values regulated Sab-bath—in fact we tend to rebel against any

the beautyby Robyn Roste

of Doing nothing

6

Robyn Roste is the Living Bridge Media manager at Insight for Living Canada.

structured religious practice, labelling it legalism. These kinds of rituals and tradi-tions are seen as old school, as something we’ve collectively outgrown.

So then where does Exodus 20:8 fit into our lives? “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” I mean, the directive made it into the Ten Commandments so it must be important. Is there a way we can remember the Sabbath without becoming legalistic about it?

I’ve been wondering about this for some time. Recently I’ve come to the conclusion our culture actually does value the con-cept of Sabbath rest, we just don’t realize it. Most people, if they’re anything like me, picture the Sabbath as a day of strict religious observance and abstinence from anything fun. But this is not accurate.

Our word “Sabbath” originates from a Jewish word “Shabbat,” which intertwines two biblical concepts: to remember and to observe. It’s not a day of self-denial but one where simple things like family, eat-ing, and relaxing are meant to be enjoyed to the fullest. It’s a day of rest and spiritual enrichment.

But even this is too dated for our secular minds. There’s an Italian phrase floating around pop culture I believe will update the concept of Sabbath perfectly: “il bel far niente.” The beauty of doing nothing.

Resting (or doing nothing) does not take away from the value of hard work; it puts into perspective the reason we work—so we can relax once the work is finished.

Most of us don’t know how to rest. We work hard, and we spend our down time playing hard. We relentlessly pursue hap-piness and pleasure instead of observing times of renewal.

It’s in these quiet times of rest and renewal God speaks loudest to us. Or, per-haps, it’s when our minds are silent we can hear His voice above the white noise of our everyday lives. I like to think of God’s voice as the same gentle whisper Elijah encoun-tered in 1 Kings 19:11-12.

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. (NIV)I’m filled with shivers imagining what

that must have been like for Elijah. And I wonder how many times have I been too preoccupied to recognize God’s gentle whisper in my life.

This year, I’m determined to discover true rest. I don’t know exactly how to go about learning to rest but I think the first step is recognizing the beauty of being silent, and doing nothing. My hunch is there is a deep well of refreshment await-ing me, which will help me continue on. ▪

“Most of us don’t know how to rest. We work hard,

and we spend our down time playing hard.”

7

Comment on this article

LAuGhInG MAtteRs by Phil Callaway8

One of the mixed blessings of public speaking is listening to the way folks introduce you.

It’s sometimes best to cover your ears. You wonder if they’ve got the wrong guy. Sometimes I wonder what it would sound like if someone who knew me well did the introducing. My friend Vance would likely introduce me this way:

Phil is an author of books that he some-times wishes would sell more copies. He has an awful slice when he golfs and his wife practices what he preaches. He has, on occa-sion, yelled at his kids, and he once yelled at me for starting a Rototiller outside his win-dow on a Sunday afternoon. I know for a fact that he loves his wife, but he also frustrates her at times, to the point where Ramona has twice considered scrambling an egg on his head. He loves Jesus, but sometimes does the thing he doesn’t want to and doesn’t do the thing he knows he should. I have seen him give way to covetousness, pride, jealousy, anger, and self-righteousness. But I’ve also seen him ask for forgiveness. Phil is a sin-ner saved by grace. God loves him. I love him. And I hope today that you will too.

I think I’d like that. The truth is, I have lived much of my life a hypocrite and it’s hard work. In the church where I grew up (I actually grew up at home, but you know what I mean) hypocrisy was rewarded

9

Phil Callaway is the author of To Be Perfectly Honest, and editor of Servant Magazine.

on the air in MaRCh

Upcoming messages Include:Discovering Your Child—and YourselfThe Bents in Your BabyStraightening Granddad’s BentUnpacking our Ancestral Baggage

In today’s world, parents need all the help they can get! In his classic series Biblical

Parenting Chuck Swindoll bring you his extensive biblical knowledge, as well as

over 50 years experience as the father of four and grandfather of 10.

well. I learned early that looking right and sounding right was all I needed to get by. But if ever I started asking tough ques-tions, or stepped out of line, it was like climbing Everest on a scooter. I thank God for parents who were real, who taught me that God looks past the outward appear-ance. But hypocrisy dies hard.

In 1 Timothy 1:16, the Apostle Paul refers to himself as the worst of sinners, the chief of sinners, the head honcho. In Romans 7:19 he admits, “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” Such an admission brings us to our knees, and brings freedom.

After the disgraced televangelist Jimmy Bakker released his book I Was Wrong, I spent some time talking with him about his time in prison. I couldn’t help but think that the worst prison he had ever been in was the self-imposed prison of hypocrisy.

One night David Letterman interviewed conservative talk show host Rush Lim-baugh and asked, “Rush, do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and think to yourself, ‘Boy, I’m full of a lot of hot air’?”

Limbaugh answered without a smile, “No.”

Whether Rush was kidding or not, I do not know. But I do know that many of us spend our lives trying to convince oth-ers that we have it all together. But what would it look like if our lives were char-acterized by the refreshing simplicity of truthfulness? Pulling the weeds of duplic-ity, manipulation, and verbal gymnastics causes authenticity to take root and integ-rity to grow.

What does it mean to get real? It means that pretending is no longer

in our bag of tricks. We accept the reality that we are sinners, that nothing we do will impress God, that His grace is enough. With such an admission comes forgive-ness and peace.

Now I’d better run. My wife is asking me how I’d like my eggs. ▪

"Many of us spend our lives trying to convince others that we have it

all together."

Biblical Parenting

10

Comment on this article

by Dr. Malcolm Gill

11

It is quite possibly the most abused, misused, and flippant word in the Eng-lish language. Consider how we use

it. I love God, and I love sausage rolls. I love my children, and I love empty park-ing spaces. I love Jesus, and I love football. What is love?

According to some, love is mercurial. People, they say, fall in love, and almost as often, people say they fall out of love. Others view love as having an element of expectation. People say, “If you love me then buy me this…do that…or give me what I want.” What is love? The roman-tics among us picture love as the illusive dream of sitting down with someone of the opposite sex enjoying a warm cup of hot chocolate watching the sunset while listening to the inspirational rhythms of jazz. Love, love, love, it’s all you need, or so say the Beatles. But what exactly is love?

The Bible’s picture of love is as strik-ing as a diamond. There are many beau-

tiful and wonderful facets that gleam in the Scripture’s descriptions and expres-sions of love. One of the best

insights into the subject of love comes in the short little book of 1 John, often known as the epistle of love. In this letter, John gives us much insight into the origin of love as well as what it looks like. In 1 John 4, the author expresses at least three ideas that should sharpen our focus and understanding of love.

First, the author explains that love is deeply rooted to the character of God. As he explains the expressions of love and the significance of love to the Christian com-munity, John reminds us love is ultimately a character trait that finds its origins in God. In a concise and startling way John simply states, “God is love.” Only two other times does John make “God is” statements. John 4:24 say “God is Spirit” and 1 John 1:5,

“God is light.” By stating, “God is…” John is talking about God’s character, His nature, His disposition. That is, by stating God is love, he is reminding his readers that at

12

Dr. Malcolm Gill lectures in Greek, new testament and Preaching at sydney Missionary and Bible College in sydney, Australia. he also serves as board member of Insight for Living Australia.

the heart of God’s very being is the nature to “love.” When you think of God do you think of Him as a loving Father, one who really cares deeply for you? Do you think of Him as one who desires to benevolently bless and care for His children? Or do you view Him as a cosmic killjoy frowning at those who enjoy life? Love is first and fore-most an attitude that reflects God’s charac-ter. When we love others, we demonstrate what our God is like.

Second, John gives us a picture of what love looks like. In 1 John 4:9-10 we discover love is expressed most clearly in the send-ing of Jesus. Listen to what these verses teach, “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that God loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” God does not merely state that He loves us. He demonstrates it. He communicates how much He cares, not in words alone, but in actions. Sending His “one and only Son” God gives His greatest gift. He expresses His love by giving His Son for those who did not at first love Him. His love is sacri-ficial in that it involves payment for our wrongdoings. By sending Jesus God shows the depths of His love. This was no cheap gift—it cost God everything. If you want to see love in action read the accounts of our Lord’s life.

Finally, John explains that as Christian believers we too ought to be people who reflect God’s character by loving others.

Put another way, the act of love makes the invisible God visible (1 Jn. 4:11-12). The defining sign of a Christian is the charac-ter trait of love (Jn. 13:34-35). John writes,

“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.” When you show your co-worker love, when you share with the lonely person, when you spend time showing God’s concern for lost people, God is revealed. When you love, it is like God’s character putting on flesh. When people look at your life do they see God’s character, disposition, and nature shining through you?

The Beatles said “all we need is love” but they didn’t tell us how to love. Fortu-nately the Bible does. How do you love? Let John be our guide, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 Jn. 4:11). Get busy loving and show the world how to make the invisible God visible. ▪

"God does not merely state that He loves us. He demonstrates it."

13

Comment on this article

Answer: The short answer is yes and no. The yes answer is based on Matthew

5:48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Jesus was telling us that God is the standard against which everything else is measured. Specifically, we are to love our enemies so "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:45a).

The use of “perfect” here means com-plete. God loves all people, even evil peo-ple. This is how we can be as perfect as God. Our love for our fellow man needs to grow and mature to even include loving our enemies. If we do not love our enemies we are not behaving as sons of God should.

The answer is also no. We’ve all heard the sayings, “Nobody’s perfect” and “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.”

God doesn’t expect us to be perfect in the sense that we never sin. He knows we sin and has made provision for us for that

through Jesus’ high priestly work (1 Jn. 2:1). Some Christians believe we can become perfect in the sense that we no longer sin. But the only way to believe that is to redefine sin as something less than it is, or reject the words in 1 John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving our-selves and the truth is not in us.”

No matter how hard we try we sin con-stantly and are therefore far from perfect. We commit sins of commission—doing that which we shouldn’t, and sins of omis-sion—not doing that which we should. I may sin by stealing or taking the Lord’s name in vain. And I may sin by failing to rejoice, or to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

God sees and knows our shortcomings. And that is why in daily life we need His undeserved favour—grace. In spite of us, His infinite love is unconditional. Our rela-tionship to God is not based on our perfec-tion, but on Christ’s. His perfect obedience

QuestIon: Does GoD expect christians to be perfect?

by Steve Johnson

14

Grace is the central theme God weaved throughout His entire Word. This devotional book takes a fresh look at God’s grace in action in the lives of 30 Old Testament men and women.

thiS Month’S FEATURED RESOURCE

is credited to us so when God looks at us, He sees us as perfect. If we could be perfect on our own strength, Christ’s death would have been unnecessary.

These two answers actually do fit together. The standard believers are to live by is our Heavenly Father’s, who loves completely. Perfectly. Jesus taught that we must demonstrate love to all people, no matter what faith, nationality, or person-ality. If you love your enemies you then truly are perfect, complete, like your heav-enly Father.

Will we ever achieve loving perfectly like our heavenly Father loves? Not in this life. But this is to be our goal and we are to pursue it wholeheartedly. Perfect love is a standard impossible for us to attain by our own efforts but what is impossible for man is possible with God. It’s only through the power of God’s Spirit His people can truly love and pray for those who intend to do them harm (Rom. 12:14-21).

I will get nowhere if I trust in my own abilities. That which God demands, only He can accomplish, including the demand to love our enemies. What is impossible for man becomes possible for those who give their lives to Jesus Christ through the

power of the Holy Spirit who lives in our hearts. For “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live

by faith in the Son of God…” (Gal. 2:20). When I accept my imperfection, under-

stand my inability, and receive God’s grace I will be able to love all men in a way that is characteristic of our heavenly Father.

And that is what God expects. I hope this helps.- steve

steve Johnson is the executive director at IFLC.

“our relationship to God is not based on our

perfection, but on christ’s.”

la

mb ©

isto

ckph

oto.

com

/Eri

k L

am

See enclosed form for ordering information 15

Comment on this article

See enclosed form for ordering information or visit insightforliving.ca

Behold the Man!

The Pathway of His Passion

When you stop long enough to look, to think, to imagine, and to

truly behold the Man, you'll never be the same again.

Pick up this classic Chuck Swindoll paperback now to help you pre-

pare for the Easter season.

Sale: $6.50

Regular: $13.00

order/donate at insightforliving.ca or call 1.800.663.7639offer expires march 31, 2013

FEBRUARYon sale in

Anger: Aim It in the Right Direction pamphlet by Joni Eareckson Tada. (14 panels, 8.5 x 5.5 inches, unfolds to 38 inches long)

You can find freedom from the bondage of anger. The key is to aim it in the right direction! Joni tells her story of facing the news of being paralyzed and shows you the right way of dealing with anger using biblical principles.

The Grace Awakeninghardcover by Charles R. Swindoll, 304 pages

Grace meets us where we are and gives us what we don’t deserve. Chuck’s best-selling book will help to awaken your heart to God’s way of living. This limited release is updated to include a 30-day devotional.

$450reg. $6.00

SAlE! $600reg. $20.00

SAlE!

Behold the Man: The Pathway of His Passion paperback by Charles R. Swindoll, 112 pages

Why would an innocent Man walk willingly toward such a grisly end? In a story-based

investigation of the last week of Jesus’ life—from the Last Supper to His death—Chuck focuses on

why Jesus walked the sacrificial path to die.

$650reg. $13.00

SAlE!

Order now to have in time for Easter!

neW this Month!

FIRST COPy

$300 $7.50additional

copies: reg. $10.00

this month’s featureD resource

on the air this Month!

Glimpses of Grace: 30 Reflections on Old Testament Lives spiral-bound devotional by Insight for Living, 148 pages

Grace is the central theme God weaved throughout His entire Word. This devotional book takes a fresh look at God’s grace in action in the lives of 30 Old Testament men and women.

The Grace Awakening15 CD messages + Bible companion

Where sin abounds, grace super–abounds! Chuck’s classic series explores how God’s amazing grace can release you from the pressure to measure up and allow you to live in freedom.

$3500reg. $52.00

SAlE!

“I love this series because it covers so many topics, such as marriage, honouring God in my work, and prayer. no matter what I’m going through, I can turn to Chuck’s teaching and advice in Becoming a People of Grace.”

emily Bush Listener Services Representative

STAFF PICKSBecoming a People of Grace 26 CD messages

Jesus died and rose again to do more than just get you to heaven. God has plans for you today, plans He prepared in advance for you. Chuck’s study of Ephesians is a reminder that you were not saved by good works but for them.

$5475reg. $73.00

SAlE!

Intimacy with the Almighty 4 CD messages

How do you develop an intimate walk with God? Chuck probes that question as he focuses on four actions that will draw you closer to God: simplicity, silence, solitude, and surrender.

$1800reg. $24.00

SAlE!

this month’s featureD resourceHope: Expect Great Things from God booklet by Charles R. Swindoll, 35 pages

What’s one thing that you can’t live without? Hope. Take a fresh look at the lives of Abraham and Sarah and recognize how essential hope was in their lives—and how essential it is in yours.

The Secret to Facing Hard Days: Insight on Discouragement, Guilt, and Anxiety paperback by Insight for Living, 68 pages

Nothing takes the wind out of your sails like discouragement. Walk through what the Bible says about discouragement, guilt, and anxiety in a very personal look at God’s provisions for your hardest days.

living on the Ragged Edge: Coming to Terms with Reality paperback by Charles R. Swindoll, 382 pages

Do you want to find joy and peace? In this study of King Solomon’s quest for satisfaction, discover the ultimate secret of the “good life”—a life of meaning in a world on the ragged edge.

Clearing Away the Trash We Regret booklet by Charles R. Swindoll, 30 pages

Regrets. We all have them. Chuck explores a passage from the book of Joel to teach you how to gain closure for the regrets of your life so that you can move into the future with confidence.

$375reg. $5.00

SAlE! $900reg. $12.00

SAlE!

$1050reg. $14.00

SAlE!

$375reg. $5.00

SAlE!

Be Kind, Be Friendly, Be Thankfulpaperback children’s book & CD by Phil Callaway

Your children will laugh and learn along with these captivating creatures who find joy even when they have to say goodbye. Includes CD

with original songs.

$975reg. $13.00

SAlE!

info@insightforliving.ca • insightforliving.ca • 1.800.663.7639

Donating to Insight for Living Canada can be like eating an elephant—it’s often difficult financially to swallow a single large gift.

Why not consider a monthly bite-sized donation? It’s a lot easier to swallow and in the end achieves the same result.

If one bite at a time works for you, become a Monthly Partner.

Sign up online at insightforliving.ca/partner

or call 1.800.663.7639.

Answer: One bite at

a time.

Question: How do you eat an

elephant?